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B♭ neapolitan major scale on guitar
B♭ neapolitan major uses B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G, A. Box 1 places roots on string 6 fret 6, string 3 fret 3, and string 1 fret 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, 7
How do you play the B♭ neapolitan major scale on guitar?
B♭ neapolitan major in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 14 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 1 and the G string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 5 (A) | 1, 2, 4 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3, 4 | A, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3 | F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
B♭ neapolitan major in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 15 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the G string at fret 3 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 3 (G) | 3, 4, 6 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
B♭ neapolitan major in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 15 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the low E string at fret 6, the D string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 7, 8, 9 | A, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8 | F, G |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
B♭ neapolitan major in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 13 notes across 6 strings, from D♭ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 10, 12 | G, A |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11, 12 | A, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
B♭ neapolitan major in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 14 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 13 and the B string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 12, 13, 14 | A, B♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 14 | G, A |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 14 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
Lower the second degree of B♭ melodic minor by a semitone to get B♭ neapolitan major. The scale spells 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, 7 with intervals 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. Its step pattern is H, W, W, W, W, W, H. Compare with B♭ melodic minor to hear the ♭2.
When to use it
Use B♭ neapolitan major over B♭ minor or B♭ 5th chords. The ♭2 and ♭3 create tension in jazz and neoclassical lines. Try it over B♭ minor or B♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 6 fret 6 and covers frets 1–4, making the half-step ♭2 easy to reach.
Common questions
What notes are in B♭ neapolitan major?
The notes are B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, G, A. The scale has a lowered second and third degree compared to major. It is also called Kokilpriya in Carnatic music. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit B♭ neapolitan major?
The tonic chord is B♭ minor or B♭ 5th. The scale also works over altered dominant chords like B 7♭5 and C♯ 7♯5. Use it for a dark, exotic sound.
How is B♭ neapolitan major different from B♭ melodic minor?
B♭ neapolitan major has a C♭ instead of C. This lowers the second degree by a semitone. The rest of the notes are identical.